CNBC-TV18’s Nigel D'souza is in conversation with the Steel Secretary Aruna Sharma on the side-lines of the Centrum Symposium on steel. Steel consumption is going up very well, it is matching to the increase in the production which is a very good sign, she said.

All eyes are on Budget, which is just round the corner, and Koushik Chatterjee, Group ED, Tata Steel is of the view that investments in research and development (R&D) is a necessity and Indian companies must take on the R&D path as a critical business objective.

North Eastern Carrying Corporation has bagged a Rs 400-crore order from Tata Steel. In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Utkarsh Jain of North Eastern said the order from Tata Steel will be completed in three-four quarters.

Just days before Tata Steel Board convenes an extraordinary general meeting) on December 21 for the removal of Nusli Wadia as independent director of the company, Wadia has written a letter to Tata Steel shareholders saying the allegations levelled against him are false and baseless.

In conversation with CNBC-TV18, Bimlendra Jha, CEO of Tata Steel UK, said the company is trying to launch consultation process to close the British Steel Pension scheme to future accrual and it will start next week.

TV Narendran says the steel industry as a whole has done well in the last year. The government has helped the industry to deal with anti-dumping duties, but the imposition of minimum import prices has always been a temporary measure.

Some knee-jerk reaction to the new is expected, but no damage over long-term is expected, said Ramesh Damani, member of BSE & NSE adding that â€œthough it will expose dirty linen of Tata Group to public eye.â€

Mayank Pareek, President of Passenger Vehicles Business at the automaker said that initial festive demand beginning Onam has been very good for Tata Motors. The company is on course to achieve its business plans globally, he added.

Sajjan Jindal, Chairman, JSW Group said fortunately enough iron ore capacity is being developed in the country and so, the country we will import very little ore; in fact in time they would be net exporter of iron ore.

If the deal does not go through, some pressure will be seen on the stock in near-term, says Tarang Bhanushali of IIFL who has a reduced rating on Tata Steel. In case of no deal, the target price for the stock is Rs 305.